The Upper Thames Branch has developed a Species Champion
Programme which aims to increase our knowledge and conservation efforts for those
species of butterfly and moth which are most threatened in our three counties.
Each Species Champion specialises in one of our key species of butterfly or moth
and aims to study its behaviour, abundance, range and habitat requirements. Results
of these studies will help us to determine the most effective conservation activities
for each of the key species.

Our Species Champions are listed below, along with links to their reports where available.
If you would like to take on one of the vacant positions, please contact Species Champion Co-ordinator
Nick Bowles
for more information.

Every 5 years, Butterfly Conservation produces a national butterfly atlas and Upper Thames
members have the responsibility for gathering the data in our 3 counties.

The next atlas covers the years 2015 - 2019. In order to achieve reasonable coverage across
the whole region, not just the honey-pot sites, we have a team of 10K Champions. It is their
job to make sure that each tetrad (ie a 2x2 km2 square of the Ordnance Survey's national grid) of the
10K square is visited at least once in each season over the 5-year atlas period.

You don't have to do it all yourself - some of our 10K squares are shared by more than one person.
The map is divided into labelled 10K squares.
For the squares with large bold text and a blue background we are looking for 1 or more
volunteers to take over as 10K Champions. For the squares with a cream background and a
question mark below the square name we already have someone in place, but they would welcome
more help. The pink squares with an italic font and a 'C' below the name already have a
10K Champion in place.